Racing


Coronas Candy Man Tops The Five Qualifiers From Night Two For The $732,650 Sam Houston Futurity (G2)
Coronas Candy Man, under jockey Nestor Duran, setting the fastest time from 11 Sam Houston Futurity trials contested Saturday, the second night of trials for the $732,650 Grade 2 event.

© Coady Photography
Coronas Candy Man Tops The Five Qualifiers From Night Two For The $732,650 Sam Houston Futurity (G2)

HOUSTON, TX—MAY 8, 2021—The field is set for the richest running of the $732,650 Sam Houston Futurity (G2). Five exceptional juveniles clinched their berths on Friday (May 7) (see related story) and the remaining five were determined tonight (May 8) in 11 exciting 330-yard trials on the second night of competition.

It was a spectacular showing for trainer Adrian Huitron saddled two finalists in Friday night’s trials and added two more this evening. In the ninth of 11 trials, Florentino Leon’s Coronas Candy Man broke his maiden in convincing fashion under rider Nestor Duran, covering 330 yards in :17.037 seconds. The track was fast and the colt earned a 95 speed index into an 16 mph head wind.

Bred in Iowa by Robert and Sandra Brown, the son of second-crop sire Jess Good Candy out of the Corona Cartel mare Follies and Corona was a $35,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale Purchase. He posted two works at Retama Park before making his debut ,surging from his far outside post to win by a margin of 1 ¾ lengths.

"This is my first Jess Good Candy colt and he has done everything right since we began training him,” said Huitron. “We weren't sure how he would handle the lights, but he really impressed me."

El Gansito, under jockey Nestor Duran, posted the second fastest qualifying time in the eighth trial Saturday.
© Coady Photography
One race before, El Gansito, a colt by champion sire The Louisiana Cartel, set the second-fastest clocking of the night, with a driving finish also under Duran. His time of :17.191, earned him a 86 speed index.

Bred in Texas by Filimon Saucedo, El Gansito, was making his third career start, having qualified to the $302,010 Harrah’s Futurity (G3) at Louisiana Downs and finishing third in the April 3 final. Purchased privately by owner Arturo Esquivel, Huitron shared the challenges he had faced in preparing the colt for his 2-year-old campaign.

“This horse has been a handful since he was a yearling,” explained Huitron. “We worked hard with him and had to get him comfortable in the gates. He broke very well tonight."

Lucky Dice, under jockey Manuel Gutierrez, finished second to El Gansito in the eighth trial.
© Coady Photography
El Gansito held off a determined rally by Lucky Dice, who also qualified for the final in a time of :17.204 seconds for owner J and J Stone Company, Inc. Trained by Joel Huitron, the colt by One Sweet Jess was the runner-up in the Harrah’s Futurity and was ridden this evening by Manuel Gutierrez.

Bred in Kentucky by Gentry Farms, Lucky Dice has finished second in all three of his career starts. Out of the First Down Dash mare Fodice, Lucky Dice has already earned $55,342 this season. The colt sold for $13,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale last September.

Hes Tempting Gl (#9), under jockey Rolando Cabrera, finished third to El Gansito in the eighth trial.
© Coady Photography
Hes Tempting Gl, a colt by a leading third-crop sire Hes Relentless, finished a nose off Lucky Dice to get the third fastest clocking of :17.204 seconds. Jose Garcia trains the bay gelding for Garza Laurel Partnership LLC.

J .Mayers, F. J. Garza and R. J. Laurel bred Hes Tempting Gl in Texas form the Tempting Dash mare Seis To Temp. The gelding broke his maiden in his last start, April 6th at Louisiana Downs.

Trainer Rodolfo Sanchez sent Dealalicious in the third trial to get the fifth fastest time of : 17.273 seconds. In her career debut tonight, the daughter of multiple stakes sire Delagame drew off to a 1-¼ length win under jockey Noe Villatoro.

Dealalicious , under jockey Noe Villatoro, qualified in the third trial Saturday night. © Coady Photography
Owners Oscar Araiza, Edgar Araiza and Jan Carlos Hernandez purchased the sorrel filly for $7,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale last July. Michael S. Amburn bred Dealalicious from the Shazoom mare Tinalicious. She earned $9,000 for her trial win.

For a complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys to the Sam Houston Futurity(G2) CLICK HERE. The winner will earn $292,660 and join a distinguished list of past champions, including 2014 AQHA Champion 2-year-old colt, Kiss My Hocks; Azoom; Snowy Alibi, Ivan James, Especially Tres and This Is An Eagle.

The second five fastest qualifiers from each night of trials are preferred invites for the $71,165 Sam Houston Juvenile Invitational that will also run back on May 28th. For a list of those hoses CLICK HERE.

Additional reporting by Martha Claussen.

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Sam Houston Race Park is Houston's premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston. The Park offers a variety of attractions including our Suite Level featuring luxurious suites overlooking the race track and accommodating groups from 20 to 300 people, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner's Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, please visit shrp.com.